Introduction
A Sample and Hold Circuit, sometimes represented as S/H Circuit or S & H
Circuit, is usually used with an Analog to Digital Converter to sample the input
analog signal and hold the sampled signal.
In the S/H Circuit, the analog signal is sampled for a short interval of time,
usually in the range of 10µS to 1µS. After this, the sampled value is hold until
the arrival of next input signal to be sampled. The duration for holding the
sample will be usually between few milliseconds to few seconds.
The following image shows a simple block diagram of a typical Sample and
Hold Circuit.
Need for Sample and Hold Circuits
If the input analog voltage of an ADC changes more than ±1/2 LSB, then there
is a severe chance that the output digital value is an error. For the ADC to
produce accurate results, the input analog voltage should be held constant for
the duration of the conversion.
As the name suggests, a S/H Circuit samples the input analog signal based
on a sampling command and holds the output value at its output until the next
sampling command is arrived.
The following image shows the input and output of a typical Sample and Hold
Circuit.
Simple Sample and Hold Circuit
Let us understand the operating principle of a S/H Circuit with the help of a
simplified circuit diagram. This sample and hold circuit consist of two basic
components:
• Analog Switch
• Holding Capacitor
The following image shows the basic S/H Circuit.
This circuit tracks the input analog signal until the sample command is
changed to hold command. After the hold command, the capacitor holds the
analog voltage during the analog to digital conversion.
Analog Switch
Any FET like JFET or MOSFET can be used as an Analog Switch. In this
discussion, we will concentrate on JFET. The Gate-Source voltage VGS is
responsible for switching the JFET.
When VGS is equal to 0V, the JFET acts as a closed switch as it operates in its
Ohmic region. When VGS is a large negative voltage (i.e. more negative than
VGS(OFF)), the JFET acts as an open switch as it is cut-off.
The switch can be either a Shunt Switch or a Series Switch, depending on its
position with respect to input and output. The following image shows a JFET
configured as both a Shunt Switch and as a Series Switch.
Advantages
• The main and important advantage of a typical SH Circuit is to aid an
Analog to Digital Conversion process by holding the sampled analog
input voltage.
• In multichannel ADCs, where synchronization between different channels
is important, an SH circuit can help by sampling analog signals from all
the channels at the same time.
• In multiplexed circuits, the crosstalk can be reduced with an SH circuit.
Applications of Sample and Hold Circuit
Some of the important applications are mentioned below:
• Analog to Digital Converter Circuits (ADC)
• Digital Interface Circuits
• Operational Amplifiers
• Analog De-multiplexers
• Data distribution systems
• Storage of outputs of multiplexers
• Pulse Modulation Systems
